These are all the reasons why Sri Lanka needs to be your next bucket list destination. We mapped out the iconic train ride to Kandy, the country’s most amazing photo ops, and best of all, how to make authentic Sri Lankan curry!

We’ve gone through many rounds of trial and error while traveling, especially during the time we spent in SE Asia. If you’re headed to this part of the world, check out our top 50 take aways from five months in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and the Philippines.

There are definitely some universals you can expect from all hostels: dorm beds, community kitchens, the inevitable person who snores, the late nights and early mornings as people catch their budget travel in and out. But there are some places that just do it better than the rest. Here are our top 16 places from our five month experience of living the hostel life in southeast Asia.

We spent an unforgettable week surrounded by elephants, buffalo, dogs, cats, and more at Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Check out more about our volunteer experience here!

Vang Vieng is a backpackers playground: lazy boozy rivers, hidden jungle lagoons, and hot air ballooning is all we’re gonna say for now.

The mountainous town of Pai is the perfect place to kick back, relax, and enjoy the remote Thai scenery.

Vietnam’s capital and popular jumping off point is home to a beautiful Old Quarter, a thriving expat community, and a lively nightlife scene. We obviously scoped out the best digs.

Southeast Asian markets tested our shopping resolve in many, many ways. Whether it was snake liquor in Laos, pearls in Bangkok, or street food in Cambodia - these six unique markets stole our hearts and our money and we aren’t even a little mad about it.